A “shocking” explosion in the number of homeless London children being brought up in cramped bed and breakfasts is exposed today.

Close to 1,000 families are now living in B&Bs, once seen as a desperate “last resort” option for councils faced with the grim alternative of children in hostels or even on the streets.

The total has almost doubled since last year, and the number of London youngsters in B&Bs for at least six weeks — the Government’s legal limit — has soared fivefold.

Life in bed and breakfast accommodation —usually in a single room with no access to a kitchen — is seen asparticularly unsuitable for children because of a lack of privacy, dependence on unhealthy takeaway food and a corrosive insecurity that can wreak havoc with school performance.

Many families in such accommodation had been evicted from rented homes after losing jobs or benefits but had then been unable to secure social housing.

The revelation — in a report, Homeless Bound, from the National Housing Federation — found that at the start of this year 885 families in London were living in B&Bs, up 82 per cent. The total is now certain to be much higher.

Michelle Smith, London lead manager at the federation, said: “Today’s figures are shocking and highlight how many Londoners are being pushed to the brink.

“Our report shows that private renters — who make up 25 per cent of Londoners today and [will be] an even greater proportion in the future — are increasingly at risk of losing the roof over their heads.

“Many more children are now being pushed into temporary accommodation such as B&Bs. These are families who never dreamed they could end up on the streets. This is the new face of London’s homeless.”

In 2003 the then Labour government introduced guidelines that reduced B&B accommodation to an emergency measure in exceptional circumstances. But the housing crisis in London means that for a rapidly increasing number of children it has become a way of life.

In Westminster, the number of families in B&Bs for more than six weeks has rocketed to more than 130, compared with 36 in April. More than half the children in England living in B&Bs are in London.

A spokesman for the Mayor of London said he was “concerned about the reported rise in the use of bed and breakfast accommodation and is working closely with London councils and the Government to see what more can be done.”

But Green Party London Assembly member Darren Johnson said: “The Mayor has failed to stop huge cuts to homelessness services, has broadly supported the housing benefit cap and hailed a two-thirds cut in his housing budget as a really good deal.

“The tragic consequence of this toxic cocktail is the growing number stuck living out of B&Bs, sleeping on friends’ sofas or going to slum landlords in desperation.”

The Department for Communities and Local Government, said: “The long-term use of B&Bs is both unacceptable and avoidable.

“The number of families in B&B accommodation is two thirds lower than its peak in 2002.”

‘We were only meant to be in for six weeks’

Aneta Lloyd, 37, has been living with her two daughters, Francesca, five, and Liliana, seven, in a single, two-bed room in the Croydon Court Hotel since August 1.

She lost her job in December and this year the rent on her three-bedroom home in Addiscombe was raised from £875 a month to £1,200.

Aneta said: “I didn’t have a contract and couldn’t afford that but I couldn’t find anywhere else. Croydon council said I had to wait until I got a bailiff’s order evicting me before they could help. They put us into this B&B for six weeks and it’s awful.

“My younger daughter has a congenital condition and she’s had lots of surgery. She was due for another operation in October but that’s been delayed because the accommodation is inappropriate for her to come home to.”

A spokesman for Croydon Council said: “Ms Lloyd applied to the council to provide her with accommodation after being evicted by her landlord for being £13,000 in rent arrears. She has been living in emergency accommodation, which is a triple, self-contained room with its own kitchen and bathroom facilities, since September, while we consider her homelessness application. The accommodation complies with housing regulations and is considered suitable for Ms Lloyd’s needs while her application is being assessed.”

Her lawyer has threatened the council with legal action if she is not moved.